Florida Speeds Up Stimulus Spending For Transportation

September 15, 2009|Posted by William Gibson on September 15, 2009 06:01 PM

Florida no longer has the unfortunate distinction of being last among states in spending its stimulus dollars for transportation needs, according to a congressional committee.

James OberstarThe latest ranking puts Florida at number 34 as of July 31, based on a compilation released earlier this month by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Committee Chairman James Oberstar had chided Florida last month for being slow to spend its share of stimulus dollars. The idea is to get that money flowing quickly to create jobs and boost the economy.

State officials complained that the initial rankings failed to take into account Florida?s strategy of spending money wisely to meet long-term goals and the complications posed by a sprawling state with large urban populations.

The latest figures indicate partial vindication for the state, though it still ranks on the low side for speedy spending.

The committee says Florida had put out to bid 80.5 percent of its allocation by the end of July. Some 23.7 percent was under contract, and 14.6 percent had gone to projects that were ?under way.?

The highest ranking state for speed was Wyoming, where nearly all of its money was spent for projects under way. The slowest state was Hawaii.